Those who have endometriosis

jenn0021

A good friend of mine just sent me this article about endometriosis. She thinks that I should look into it further and I must say, after reading that article I kind of agree. My question is, how were you diagnosed with endometriosis? What were your symptoms? Do you have any suggestions for me? I'm scared to google and freak myself out more. The line in the article about being infertile and possibly never having kids on my own kind of freaked me out.

Thanks in advance.

delino

I don't have it so I don't have much info, but what I know is that there are different stages.  The higher stages might require lap surgery to remove it, but it can grow back so typically you try to get pregnant right after the procedure.  Having endo does not mean you can't have children.  People with severe endo might be told to persue IVF as they can place the embryo in a non endo spot. 

Please don't get yourself freaked out about it.

jenn0021

delino:

I don't have it so I don't have much info, but what I know is that there are different stages.  The higher stages might require lap surgery to remove it, but it can grow back so typically you try to get pregnant right after the procedure.  Having endo does not mean you can't have children.  People with severe endo might be told to persue IVF as they can place the embryo in a non endo spot. 

Please don't get yourself freaked out about it.

Thank you delino. I know I shouldn't let myself but it's still scary. 

klbowie

I have not been officially diagnosed with it because it requires surgery to confirm but my doctor believes I have it.  It CAN cause infretility but that is in extreme cases.  My doctor once told me getting pregnant would be good for it because it would flush out of the lining. 

The surgrey is not a D&C. I asked my doctor if they could check for it while they did my D&C and they could not.  For the surgery, the would have to make an cut by your belly button for laperscopic (sp?).  Then they go in and make sure you have it.  As surgery's go, its pretty simple but not something I am interested in doing at this point. 

I wouldn't worry about it too much.  Just keep it in the back of your mind.  Because it has to be pretty extreme case to cause infertility. Hope this helps a little.

buckeyebaby814

I do not have endo, but from hanging out on 3T I am nearly certain the only way to Dx endo is through a laparoscopy, and at the same time they can remove it.  I've also heard of women (who have already been Dx with endo) having D&Cs before TTCing.

Laurakat81

I don't have much advice either. But I think if YOU are worried and you think your symptoms match up then keep track of those symptoms like the article recommends and take those notes, the article itself, and show it to your doctor. It's worth looking into and if that is what has given you all these awful symptoms it's definitely better to find out now before it gets really bad. I know a few people IRL with endo and while all 3 struggled to get pregnant, 2 of those 3 have healthy babies! I know that sounds scary but I think the difference was all because of the timing of diagnosis. Good luck Jennie! I just want you to feel better!

jenn0021

Thanks everyone. I know that I shouldn't freak out yet and what I'm doing right now is probably good. I'm trying to eat better and I'm taking supplements. I may try and schedule an appointment with my doctor though and see about seeing an ob/gyn. And it's something to keep in mind.

EKGibs

I have been ttc for 5 years. for 3 of those years I was going to a OBGYN who really just cared about delivering babies & getting paid. I kept telling him something was wrong with me (very heavy periods, having to take up to 4 ibuprophen at a time with no relief, not being able to get pg) & he kept telling me that everything was "normal". I decided to change drs so my first visit to my current dr I told her everything that was going on so she scheduled a SHG. that showed some large cysts so she said she was 99% sure it was endo but we had to do lap surgery to know for sure. I had the surgery & they found 2 golf ball sized endo cysts on EACH ovary. I also did 6 months of Lupron injections. If you have any symptoms of endo I suggest talking to your dr & see what he/she thinks. endo does not get better on its own & the longer you wait the worse it gets. somebody told me before I had surgery to "just get pregnant. that gets rid of endometriosis without surgery" well duh like I hadnt thought of that before except endo can prevent you from getting preg. I hope you find out for sure if thats what causing your infertility. the sooner the better. I do not regret having the surgery to get rid of most of it.

killian09

My doctors suspect I may have endometriosis, but I've never had the surgery, so there is no definitive diagnosis. The reason to suspect I have it is super severe cramping and lower back pain with my periods. As the above poster said, Advil doesn't touch it and it's completely debilitating--I can barely stand up, am a sobbing mess, cant get out of bed. I have been on OCPs for years because they take the pain from totally ridiculous levels down to something that can be managed with Advil and aleve. My gyn says that given the risks of the surgery, they wouldn't do it unless I have trouble getting pregnant--which hasn't been my issue so far (knock on wood). Some docs think it may contribute to the risk of ectopic pregnancy (I had one) but there's no definitive proof of this. 

I don't know if that helps. Have you tried BCPs? That might be a starting point if you are not actively TTC. They don't help everyone, but for me it's a world of difference.  

beachbum4304

I have it. I had two laps done one in 2003 and one in 2008. I asked my recent dr if she thought I would need another one at some point in life and she said that if I had severe symptoms again to let her know and I could such another. Mine was like pp with horrible pain that pain killers wouldn't touch. I also did Liupron injections after my second surgery.

As for ttc with it I know someone who was told she couldn't have children bc of it and she got ku on accident. Another lady at my church has 5 kids bc being pregnant was way better than the endo pain (and she loves kids/wonderful mother).

Bc did not work for me tho. I was on it just for endo and cysts and I ended up having to have the surgery anyways so I quit taking it. 

mhubbar5

I was 19 when I was diagnosed. I started having burning pains in my lower abdomen. I went to the gyno and they told me my cervix was red and I had a uterine infection. I took antibotics for it (twice) and then started the back pain. I had sharp, stabbing burning back pain. It got so bad I had trouble getting in and out of my car and bed. Did x rays and told me they saw nothing and I must have sprained muscles in my back. I kept going into the gyno with abdomen pain, over and over and over. I knew something was wrong and they NEEDED to figure it out. I had a few ultrasounds and finally they said I was a medical anomaly, and agreed to do an exploratory laparoscopy. The whole process up to this point was about 8 months. I had the surgery and was diagnosed with stage 3 endometriosis. ( at 19!! ) They felt they couldn't get all the scar tissue so right after the surgery I did 6 months of depo lupron. After those were done, they told me if I wanted kids now was the time.. Well I was in college and not married at the time so it wasn't an option. I had two more laparascopic surgeries to remove scar tissue. ( no more lupron!!! worst six months of my life ) I was 27 when I met my husband. I figured we would need some kid of help having kids when we decided it was time. But we didn't need it! I got pregnant without even trying! So, don't let it freak you out. There are soo many things they can do to help you when you have endo. With my last surgery they said they could fill my tubes with fluid to help, there is the depo lupron, certain kinds of birthcontrol that help keep your scar tissue at bay. There are lots of options, just make sure you find a good doctor that will help you figure out what is best for you.

jen629

I was diagnosed at 19..severe cramps heavy bleeding and later painful sex..I have had 6 or 7 surgeries to clean it out over the last 21 years